If your kitchen is dingy or outdated, it can bring down the value of your home. Here are 10 of the easiest kitchen upgrade ideas that will help you bring some sense of style back into your space.
The kitchen in most homes is the meeting place, the room where most of the action happens. We eat, we talk, we cook, we use our kitchens. A lot. If you have ever had a few friends over, you know they always end up in the kitchen.
Because we use our kitchens so often, they also get a lot of wear and tear. If you are looking at doing a kitchen upgrade, did you know there are a lot of jobs you can easily do yourself?
Let’s take a look at some simple ways you can spruce up your kitchen, make it look newer and brighter.
Easy Kitchen Upgrades
Over time, a well-loved room can start to look worn down and shabby. There are a few easy things you can do to make it look great and new.
1. Floors
Our kitchen floors take a lot of abuse, from feet, from furniture, and from the constant cleaning. If the flooring itself is in good shape, just give it a good cleaning. Take the furniture out and get up all the built-up wax and grease from the creases and the corners.
If the tiles are torn, marked and stained beyond repair, there are DIY tiles you can buy. These can easily be installed with a little bit of guidance. There are many different types of tiles available, so you will have plenty of options.
If you tear out old carpeting, or linoleum and find some beautiful hardwood underneath, get it clean, sanded and stained or varnished for a fabulous rustic look.
2. Walls
Walls get coated with cooking grease, smoke, fingerprints and stains and food odors over the years. You can start with a good washing down the walls, to see if that can help.
Start with stripping off the old paint or wallpaper. Find a nice color or wallpaper that will suit your kitchen. If it’s dark, pick a light color to brighten the room and add space.
Make sure you use washable paint, to maintain the new look longer and easier. Make sure you do the ceiling, as well. For texture, try doing the baseboards with a slightly darker shade of the wall color.
3. Cupboards
Cupboards and cabinets take a lot of abuse over the years. They become stained and dirty looking. They can also get discolored from cooking grease or direct sunlight.
If you don’t need to replace them, get new handles and hinges for them and then paint the front of the cupboards. It can really make a big difference to a dull, dark kitchen. Check it out here.
Lighter colors add brightness, but you can match them to your walls, the baseboards or the appliances. Mix and match with the furniture to bring it all together.
4. Counters
It doesn’t take the countertop long to start looking used and abused. From being used as a cutting board, stains from food and burns, chips and broken edges can really make them look awful.
You can get filler and paint to patch up smaller flaws. These can easily be done and don’t cost much. For countertops and edges that need more repair, there are smaller tiles and strips that can be bought or for those handy with repairs, replace the whole countertop.
5. Appliances
It’s amazing what a good cleaning and a bit of enamel paint can do to fix up older appliances with small blemishes. If the appliance still works well, you can get spray paint to redo the entire thing. This is perfect for matching up the kitchen appliances with the new paint and decor of the kitchen.
6. Windows
Keep your windows clean and in good repair. You can paint the window sill and trim to match the rest of the walls and baseboards or the new cupboards. Add some nice window treatment, like sheer curtains that are cheery and allow the light in.
It’s the perfect place to add some homegrown pots of herbs and vegetables. You can pinch off a piece of fresh basil or pick your own cherry tomatoes for your salad. A kitchen garden is easy, takes up little space and requires little maintenance.
7. Lights
Nice lighting in the kitchen makes a big difference. Add a hood light over the stove, if you don’t have one, and put in some pot lights under the cupboards. This allows for softer lighting.
A harsh overhead light can be too much, so even try a lower wattage and a nice cover. Small lamps, wall sconces, and fake candles work well. Soft lighting makes meal time and morning time more bearable.
8. Plants
Adding some nice plants give a nice feel to a kitchen. Plants also clean the air, so a few hanging plants can be practical, as well as decorative. Besides garden types of plants, flowering plants and ivies are as good as decorations.
9. Furniture
Find some nice furniture or recover the existing ones. Adjustable tables are functional and great for growing families. You can find some great pieces at auctions or secondhand stores in great shape.
If you have an old dresser or bookcase you aren’t using, paint it up to use in the kitchen. It provides extra cupboard space, is perfect for plants, dishes, and storage for dry goods.
10. Sink and Faucet
Replacing an old, stained sink and leaking faucet are not only attractive but they are economical, too. No one likes a dripping tap and a sink that is rusty, stained or chipped is just unsightly.
If it’s just some repairs you need, replace the caulking, tighten up the taps and get enamel paint to fill in the chips in the sink.
Dream Kitchen
Kitchen upgrade ideas are easy once you know what you want. Make a budget and start this weekend, it doesn’t take much time, effort or money. Most of these can be done in an afternoon.
Doing it yourself is the best way to get what you want. Please continue reading here for more information and ideas on interior decor ideas for sprucing up your home.